Manchester United fear Javier Hernández will miss their next seven matches
after he suffered a freakish ankle injury ruling him out for around one
month.

Sir Alex Ferguson said United were enduring a “torrid time” through injuries with the latest inflicted as the Mexican striker crumpled to the ground early on in Saturday’s 1-0 Premier Leaguevictory over Aston Villawith no defender close to him. He has damaged ligaments in his left ankle.

In a strange sequence of injuries Villa also had goalkeeper Shay Given and midfielder Jermaine Jenas — in his first start for the club — carried off on a stretcher.

It is feared that Given will also be out for a month with a suspected hamstring tear while Jenas will undergo a scan on Monday after apparently suffering yet another Achilles problem.

There were even suggestions, dismissed by Villa manager Alex McLeish, that Jenas might have tripped on a protruding sprinkler on the Villa Park pitch.

Jenas has already missed two months of the season with an Achilles injury although the new problem is not thought to be on the same leg. Nevertheless the former Spurs midfielder has a history of Achilles trouble.

United, who face Basle in the Champions League on Wednesday, are already missing striker Michael Owen but Ferguson has Danny Welbeck fit again and also suggested that Dimitar Berbatov might be close to recovering from an ankle injury.

““We’re having a torrid time with injuries at the moment. It could be three to four weeks [for Hernández]. But Danny Welbeck gives us an option for Wednesday,” Ferguson said. “Antonio Valencia also did very well when he came on so we’ve got some options up front and maybe Berbatov’s fit, also.”

McLeish confirmed he had disciplined Charles N’Zogbia after the midfielder failed to turn up for treatment last week. The Frenchman was dropped from the squad for the United game and is expected to be fined.

“I hope he takes it on the chin. The players know we have got club rules and we will adhere to them,” McLeish said.

“There won’t be any grudges. Charles has got to be receptive and realise I want to help him and every single player at this club because we need all the help we can get.”